Looking back, do you wish your child attended the least expensive college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

20,000+ student universities are nothing like what you describe here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

In many areas, cultures and social classes, commuting to college is still the norm, but not necessarily community college. Lots of commuter students at GMU and UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Words from my 26 yr old niece who ended up at an instate due to cost over a private LAC where she would've had to take out a loan even though she *really* did not want to go to instate. She got a great job out of college, now close to making six figures.

"I'm so glad I went with in state and didn't have a loan. I see all my friends who went to more expensive schools struggling to pay their loans, some moving in with their parents. I have enough saved now to buy a small condo."

My niece spoke to my soon to be college freshman about college costs and loans. She convinced my DC to take the good in state option, and save your money.

THIS is awesome. Sounds like a great kid passing on good advice!

We have always told our kids that we have a budget and we will not sign for any loans over it (if they felt strongly it would be their option to do so). Their grandparents have contributed to their college savings in addition to our contributions which has given them enough for most in-state schools so they are very fortunate. #1 DC is at an OOS private school within budget with no regrets (got in to more and less expensive and chosen school was in the middle). #2 DC is narrowing down options - 4 remain with one over budget school to discuss but probably will get dropped by child, again it is DC decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For generic MC people, CC makes a lot of sense. Transfer in 4 or 5 APs to NVCC and get a CS degree in 3 semesters. Live at home. Guaranteed transfer to GMU with 4 semesters remaining. Saving 40k between room and board and tuition.

Or guaranteed transfer to VCU for CS or JMU CIS. The options are plentiful and the savings are meaningful.

Not every kid is going to show up at college in a dorm and have the time of their life. Although I will say I did. I knew quite a few who were not built for that life.

What are the characteristics of kids not built to have a good experience living in a dorm? Who would be better off living at home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For generic MC people, CC makes a lot of sense. Transfer in 4 or 5 APs to NVCC and get a CS degree in 3 semesters. Live at home. Guaranteed transfer to GMU with 4 semesters remaining. Saving 40k between room and board and tuition.

Or guaranteed transfer to VCU for CS or JMU CIS. The options are plentiful and the savings are meaningful.

Not every kid is going to show up at college in a dorm and have the time of their life. Although I will say I did. I knew quite a few who were not built for that life.

What are the characteristics of kids not built to have a good experience living in a dorm? Who would be better off living at home?

People who cannot afford to dorm. Also, people with medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

I’m glad that finances aren’t a concern for your family. Hopefully though, your child is mature enough to understand that not every family has the money to send their kid for 3-4 years and pay their rent + tuition.

How would you not know finances are a concern? You had 18 years to prepare. If family funding is tight, you had better be on your kid's butt to have strong high school marks, so they can maybe get into a top 50 university with the best financial aid and/or you can shop around tier two and three universities for merit awards.

I do not think there's any value in making your kid be the smartest in the room at community college for a year, let alone two. And frankly, I'm struggling to think of 24 let alone 60 credits worth of courses a smart kid with a bunch of AP credits would even find value and transferable value in. CCs are last chance colleges and places for nurses and dental techs, not places for 90 percentile smart kids who have a shot at VT and UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

I’m glad that finances aren’t a concern for your family. Hopefully though, your child is mature enough to understand that not every family has the money to send their kid for 3-4 years and pay their rent + tuition.

How would you not know finances are a concern? You had 18 years to prepare. If family funding is tight, you had better be on your kid's butt to have strong high school marks, so they can maybe get into a top 50 university with the best financial aid and/or you can shop around tier two and three universities for merit awards.

I do not think there's any value in making your kid be the smartest in the room at community college for a year, let alone two. And frankly, I'm struggling to think of 24 let alone 60 credits worth of courses a smart kid with a bunch of AP credits would even find value and transferable value in. CCs are last chance colleges and places for nurses and dental techs, not places for 90 percentile smart kids who have a shot at VT and UVA.

Wow you sound really out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For generic MC people, CC makes a lot of sense. Transfer in 4 or 5 APs to NVCC and get a CS degree in 3 semesters. Live at home. Guaranteed transfer to GMU with 4 semesters remaining. Saving 40k between room and board and tuition.

Or guaranteed transfer to VCU for CS or JMU CIS. The options are plentiful and the savings are meaningful.

Not every kid is going to show up at college in a dorm and have the time of their life. Although I will say I did. I knew quite a few who were not built for that life.

What are the characteristics of kids not built to have a good experience living in a dorm? Who would be better off living at home?

There are cultures that don't want their kids, especially teen girls, to leave home for college. They want to control their adult kids. To cultures like this, they will try to rationalize why it's an astute decision, when really, it's not about finances, it's about wanting to control their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

I’m glad that finances aren’t a concern for your family. Hopefully though, your child is mature enough to understand that not every family has the money to send their kid for 3-4 years and pay their rent + tuition.

How would you not know finances are a concern? You had 18 years to prepare. If family funding is tight, you had better be on your kid's butt to have strong high school marks, so they can maybe get into a top 50 university with the best financial aid and/or you can shop around tier two and three universities for merit awards.

I do not think there's any value in making your kid be the smartest in the room at community college for a year, let alone two. And frankly, I'm struggling to think of 24 let alone 60 credits worth of courses a smart kid with a bunch of AP credits would even find value and transferable value in. CCs are last chance colleges and places for nurses and dental techs, not places for 90 percentile smart kids who have a shot at VT and UVA.

Wow you sound really out of touch.

I have worked in higher education for decades. I've literally never seen a smart, accomplished teen end up in community college. It's more-so a message board hypothetical than a real thing. It's honestly pointless. If you have great high school marks, you can get a boatload of merit from some excellent colleges. There are thousands of universities between the Ivy League and UVA and community college. I mean, come on. "Saving" a few bucks to deprive your kid a freshman year experience and letting them be the genius in a room full of burnouts? Why? How is that inspiring? How does that make them a better student? How does that help their goals? It is legitimately harmful.

If they're a mediocre high school student, want to pursue a trade, want tech certs, want to be a nurse or dental tech, sure, go to community college. Otherwise, avoid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

I’m glad that finances aren’t a concern for your family. Hopefully though, your child is mature enough to understand that not every family has the money to send their kid for 3-4 years and pay their rent + tuition.

How would you not know finances are a concern? You had 18 years to prepare. If family funding is tight, you had better be on your kid's butt to have strong high school marks, so they can maybe get into a top 50 university with the best financial aid and/or you can shop around tier two and three universities for merit awards.

I do not think there's any value in making your kid be the smartest in the room at community college for a year, let alone two. And frankly, I'm struggling to think of 24 let alone 60 credits worth of courses a smart kid with a bunch of AP credits would even find value and transferable value in. CCs are last chance colleges and places for nurses and dental techs, not places for 90 percentile smart kids who have a shot at VT and UVA.

Wow you sound really out of touch.

I have worked in higher education for decades. I've literally never seen a smart, accomplished teen end up in community college. It's more-so a message board hypothetical than a real thing. It's honestly pointless. If you have great high school marks, you can get a boatload of merit from some excellent colleges. There are thousands of universities between the Ivy League and UVA and community college. I mean, come on. "Saving" a few bucks to deprive your kid a freshman year experience and letting them be the genius in a room full of burnouts? Why? How is that inspiring? How does that make them a better student? How does that help their goals? It is legitimately harmful.

If they're a mediocre high school student, want to pursue a trade, want tech certs, want to be a nurse or dental tech, sure, go to community college. Otherwise, avoid.

I have to agree that you sound extremely out of touch. And times are changing. Schools do not give a ‘boat load’ of merit. After *some* merit, kids still have hefty tuition bills. This is why people are choosing CC. I agree that it can be dispiriting to go to CC especially if you were expecting a 4 year experience. But that is life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I'm not sure if you're still on this thread - it is so long!
We have 2 kids who will be going to college at the same time. If they go to one of several excellent state schools available to us, they should each cost about $30-40K per year total. If they choose to go private, or if private ends up being their only options this obviously doubles at least which would be crippling. We are flagging the state options now before they apply by about 1 year.

Thank you. Yes, I’m still here. One small issue that muddies the water a bit in our situation is we are actually DC residents. So although we get 10k towards a state school, that isn’t really enough to make up the difference between in state and OOS schools and even with his very high GPA, those merit scholarships rarely get offered to OOS students. So it’s a bit of a catch. He’s still looking at privates. And we will also have two in and the same time like you. No decision has been made yet. Appreciate you sharing your experience!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

20,000+ student universities are nothing like what you describe here.

Oh really, did you go to a state school? How many community college transfer friends did you make? And that was presumably 20 or 30 years ago before social media and cell phones. Unless you're transferring into a college you already have a lot of best friends at, it's going to suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For generic MC people, CC makes a lot of sense. Transfer in 4 or 5 APs to NVCC and get a CS degree in 3 semesters. Live at home. Guaranteed transfer to GMU with 4 semesters remaining. Saving 40k between room and board and tuition.

Or guaranteed transfer to VCU for CS or JMU CIS. The options are plentiful and the savings are meaningful.

Not every kid is going to show up at college in a dorm and have the time of their life. Although I will say I did. I knew quite a few who were not built for that life.

What are the characteristics of kids not built to have a good experience living in a dorm? Who would be better off living at home?

There are cultures that don't want their kids, especially teen girls, to leave home for college. They want to control their adult kids. To cultures like this, they will try to rationalize why it's an astute decision, when really, it's not about finances, it's about wanting to control their kids.

Yes it’s much better to offer up your daughter as a first rate whore (thanks David Allen Coe) for a state school fraternity.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on the outcomes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "cheapest" option, community college, wouldn't have been a good fit for me because of my field of study, it was also a situation where, at least at the time, the kids from my high school who went to CC did so because they didn't know what else to do or because they didn't get into the closest state university. I took a couple classes over the summer there and it was like being back in my worst gen ed classes in high school with other students sleeping, being disruptive, etc.

I sometimes wish I had chosen the cheapER option that still would have been a good fit for what I wanted to do- I still would have had to take out loans but not as much. Ultimately, the small college I attended helped me achieve my career goals and I was able to pay off my loans eventually, but it did hamper my choices in my 20s/early 30s.

Bingo. Folks who recommend CC for an above average student are idiots. Outside of maybe a random single course to take over the summer and transfer in (if your university will even allow it), it’s a pointless waste of time and just ruins your social life and segue to university. You miss out on all the freshman connections.

You’re an idiot.

This forum is full of people who would send OTHER people’s kids to CC. Or are trying to rationalize why their unmotivated kid went to one or why they are control freaks who forced their kid(s) to live at home and commute to a local college. If your kid is bright, CC is a waste of time and just produces atrophy and torpedos your kid’s social life and experience they’ll get out of university once they transfer. Lot of fun being the weird CC transfer kid doesn’t have any friends from freshman year.

20,000+ student universities are nothing like what you describe here.

Oh really, did you go to a state school? How many community college transfer friends did you make? And that was presumably 20 or 30 years ago before social media and cell phones. Unless you're transferring into a college you already have a lot of best friends at, it's going to suck.

NP. Goodness gracious - why the animosity?

My daughter went to community college 2017-2019. Transferred to VT. Graduated in spring '21. We both consider cc one of the best decisions she/we have ever made.